Bomb wrecks former bishop’s car

THE FORMER bishop of Limassol yesterday launched an attack on his successor following an early morning bomb blast that wrecked his car.

Police said the explosion took place at around 3am and caused extensive damage to the Mercedes used by former Bishop Chrysanthos.

The car was parked outside his residence on Spyros Araouzos Street.

The device, which had been placed under the car, next to the left front wheel, also caused minor damage to an adjacent vehicle.

Chrysanthos was forced to resign his position in 1998 amid growing reports alleging his involvement in a huge international fraud scandal involving millions of dollars.
Chrysanthos has always denied the allegations.

The Holy Synod had suspended him from taking part in any holy duty for two years.
The suspension has since been lifted, but Chrysanthos says Bishop Athanassios of Limassol continues to freeze him out.

And yesterday he used this to explain the bomb attack against him, barely stopping short of naming Athanassios as the instigator.

“Not to allow a bishop who was bishop for 25 years; banning from officiating at services in Limassol churches, all that means that he does not want you.

“It means that your presence in the district is not pleasant,” Chrysanthos said.

He added: “I waited so many years and he said we would allow it slowly-slowly; four, five years have passed; they do not want me to be here, especially in light of the Archbishop’s elections.”

He said he has already taken his decisions concerning the elections, adding: “The plan from the onset was not for me to stay in my position but to be eliminated and to leave or if possible to disappear.”

Chrysanthos ruled out the bomb being linked to past Church cases though a police source did not share his views and suggested that the bomb had been the result of personal differences.

Chrysanthos said he did not suspect anyone.